2nd Tuesday — Time: 2.00-3.30pm
Location: Victoria Hall — First
session: 11 October 2011
This group evolved from the Mathematical Puzzles group last year. We look at the
science behind a whole variety of phenomena, both natural and man-made, often
with a topical relevance. Members of the group are encouraged to bring issues
that interest them, either to explain to the rest of the group, or to ask the
group for answers. It is hoped to continue having some sessions in which group
members give the technological background to their previous working lives. There
is a wide variation in level of difficulty, and the science ranges over the interests
and knowledge of the group members. In the last year discussion has often focussed
en energy supplies. The current leader is quite strong on the physical sciences,
and hopeless on biology.
David Holdsworth discussed how wave equations arose, and the weird world
of a mathematics in which there are lots of situations where
A × B ≠ B × A
and
A2 might well be negative.
8th November 2011 — Keeping Still in Moving Circumstances
Chris Petrie explained how to keep ships stationary at sea, despite the motion of the ocean
— very important to oil companies, and lots more besides.
13th December 2011 — Everything
We watched Jim Al-Khalili’s TV programme on Everything,
followed by discussion.
24th January 2012 — Impressions of 2011
Members brought their own reactions 2011’s science news,
or things that they had encountered themselves in 2011.
Norma talked about a report in New Scientist of genetic modification
being used to insert a serility gene into pests
so as to eradicate them.
Chris talked about a factorisation algorithm that he had encountered
— of use to codebreakers.
We rounded off with something that still has not happened —
the proof of the Riemann Hypothesis,
and marvelled at
Euler’s factorisation
into prime numbers.
14th February 2012 — Language skills of deaf children
Norma will talk about her studies of language skills of deaf children.
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